Method and apparatus for isolating inactive fuel passages

ABSTRACT

A system includes a turbine engine having a fuel injector. The fuel injector includes fluid ducts, each having a fuel inlet coupled to a distinct fuel source. The system includes a compressed air source that provides compressed air simultaneously to the fluid ducts, and a convergence point where combined fuel and air streams from the ducts are mixed. The fuel inlets are in a parallel flow arrangement such that no fuel from one fuel injector is present at another fuel injector.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/936,071, filed Jul. 5, 2013, which is a continuationapplication of International Application No. PCT/IB2011/003329, filedDec. 30, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/428,744 filed Dec. 30, 2010, each of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The technical field generally but not exclusively relates to fluidinjection or spraying, and more particularly relates to fluid injectionsuch as fuel injection where some fluid passages are inactive in somemodes of operation. Inactive fluid passage(s) may be found in equipmentfor many reasons including, but not limited to: a pilot injector whichis utilized for low power operation and may be turned off as required athigher power; staged fuel injector(s) which may be turned on and offbased upon desired operating parameters or for emissions considerations;fuel injectors utilized for operation on different types of fuel eithersimultaneously or alternatively; and adding or switching betweenchemicals for a sprayer or cleaning nozzle. During times that a fluidpassage is inactive, hot combustion products, fuel, or other injectedchemicals can enter the inactive passages. Also, an inoperative fluidpassage may have stagnant residual fluid that, if exposed totemperature, chemicals, or other contaminants may be altered, solidify,or cause corrosion. Further developments are desirable in this area.

SUMMARY

One embodiment includes a fluid injector that selectively providesinjection of a first active fluid or a second active fluid, where theinjection ducts of the active fluids are not exposed to other activefluids in the injector or to products of the mixed active fluids.Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, andbenefits shall become apparent from the following descriptions,drawings, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system for isolating inactivefluid passages.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of an injector that isolates inactivefluid passages.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view of an alternate embodiment of an injectorthat isolates inactive fluid passages.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram of a procedure for isolating inactivefluid passages.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, any alterations and further modificationsin the illustrated embodiments, and any further applications of theprinciples of the invention as illustrated therein as would normallyoccur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates arecontemplated and protected.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system 101 for isolatinginactive fluid passages. The exemplary system 101 is a gas turbineengine having a fuel injector 146, although other types of systems arecontemplated herein. Non-limiting examples of system types include apaint spray nozzle, a chemical sprayer, a cleaning device, and/or anyother type of fluid injector. The fuel injector 146 includes a number offluid ducts 103, 105, 107, each associated with a distinct active fluidsource 122, 124, 126, which are fluidly coupled to the ducts 103, 105,107 via corresponding active fluid inlets 108, 110, 212. The fuelinjector 146 is illustrated with three fluid ducts 103, 105, 107, butmay include two fluid ducts or more than three fluid ducts. The activefluid sources 122, 124, 126 may provide distinct fuels (e.g. jet fuel,natural gas, diesel, a bio-fuel, hydrogen, etc.), fuel additives, inertfluids, or other fluids understood in the art.

The fuel injector 146 receives a carrier fluid from a compressed fluidsource such as a compressor 120 providing compressed air. The compressor120 receives an inlet stream 140 of the carrier fluid. A carrier fluidstream 102, 104, 206 is provided to each fluid duct 103, 105, 107. Thecompressor 120 may be a compressor or compressor stage normally found onthe gas turbine engine where the carrier fluid streams 102, 104, 206 arebleed-off streams from the compressor, or the compressor 120 may be anauxiliary or dedicated compressor for the fluid injector 146 and/orauxiliary devices. In certain embodiments, the carrier fluid streams102, 104, 206 may be provided by more than one compressor 120 orpressurizing device, or they may be divided from a single pressurizedstream as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The fuel injector 146 includes a convergence point 106 that receivescombined streams 116, 118, 222 from each of the fluid ducts 103, 105,107. Each combined stream 116, 118, 222 includes a carrier fluid stream102, 104, 206 combined with active fluid from the associated fluid inlet108, 110, 212. Each combined stream 116, 118, 222 includes primarilycarrier fluid during times when the associated active fluid source 122,124, 126 is not delivering active fluid, and is combined carrier fluidwith the associated active fluid during times when the associated activefluid source 122, 124, 126 is delivering active fluid. Within eachcombined stream 116, 118, 222 at positions downstream of the associatedactive fluid inlets 108, 110, 212, the combined stream 116, 118, 222 maycontain amounts of localized reverse flow fluids. The localized reverseflow may have any cause. Exemplary, non-limiting localized reverse flowsinclude flow due to pressure differentials between combined streams 116,118, 222, flow due to Coanda effects causing injected liquids to reverseslightly into neighboring fluid streams, and/or flow into active fluidinlets 108, 110, 212 that do not presently have flow from thecorresponding active fluid source 122, 124, 126.

In certain embodiments, the effluent 134 of the convergence point 106may be provided to a nozzle 136 or other device of the injector 146. Theoutput 142 of the injector 146 may be provided to a combustion chamber(not shown) or otherwise utilized in the system 101.

In certain embodiments, the active fluid inlets 108, 110, 212 arestructured in a parallel flow arrangement. A parallel flow arrangementindicates that each active fluid inlet 108, 110, 212 is positioned at aflow location upstream of any fluid mixing point between any of theactive fluid inlets 108, 110, 212. In a further embodiment, the parallelflow arrangement further includes each active fluid inlet 108, 110, 212is positioned at a flow location that is an additional distance upstreamof any fluid mixing point between each of the plurality of fluid ducts103, 105, 107 such that any localized flow reversal will not providemixed fluid at any active fluid inlet 108, 110, 212. The localized flowreversal includes the Coanda effect flow, a fluid duct pressuredifferential flow, and/or an idle active fluid inlet 108, 110, 212reverse flow.

The determination of the additional distance upstream may be made bytesting the operating conditions of the fuel injector 146 (or otherdevice). Exemplary determination conditions include, without limitation,maximum flow rates of adjacent fluid ducts 103, 105, 107 at times whenan active fluid inlet 108, 110, 212 will be idle, maximum flow reversalsthat occur during times when the compressor 120 may be providing one ormore carrier fluid streams 102, 104, 206 at a low pressure, and theextent of Coanda flow when an injected fluid is under conditions formaximal Coanda flow such as an elevated viscosity condition of fluid inthe system.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of an injector 100 that isolates idleactive fluid passages 108, 110. The injector 100 is a cutaway view ofone-half of the injector, with certain non-essential features omittedsuch as the extent of active fluid inlets 108, 110 upstream of the inletopenings into the fluid ducts 103, 105. The fluid injector 100 includesa first fluid duct 103 having a first active fluid inlet 108 and asecond fluid duct 105 having a second active fluid inlet 110. A carrierfluid source provides a carrier fluid simultaneously into each of thefirst fluid duct 103 and the second fluid duct 105, the carrier fluidstream 102 into the first fluid duct 103 and the second carrier fluidstream 104 into the second fluid duct 105.

The injector 100 includes a convergence point 106 that receives a firstcombined stream 116 and a second combined stream 118. The first combinedstream 116 includes the first carrier fluid stream 102 mixed with thefirst active fluid, and the second combined stream 118 includes thesecond carrier fluid 104 mixed with the second active fluid. Thecombined streams 116, 118 at certain operating conditions may beprimarily carrier fluid when the associated active fluids are not beingprovided. The first active fluid inlet 108 and the second active fluidinlet 110 are structured in a parallel flow arrangement. The parallelflow arrangement includes each active fluid inlet 108, 110 fluidlycoupled to the associated fluid duct 103, 105 at a position upstream ofany mixing of the fluid flows in the fluid ducts 103, 105. In oneembodiment, the first active fluid includes a first fuel and the secondactive fluid includes a second fuel. In certain embodiments, the activefluids include fuel, paint, primer, fluid chemical, solvent, and/orwater. In certain embodiments, the first active fluid and the secondactive fluid may be the same fluid—for example allowing the first fluidsource 122 to be refilled or recharged while the injector 100 continuesoperation by providing active fluid from the second fluid source 124.

In certain embodiments, the parallel flow arrangement further includeseach active fluid inlet 108, 110 positioned at a flow location that isan additional distance upstream of any fluid mixing point such that anylocalized flow reversal will not provide mixed fluid at any active fluidinlet 108, 110. The localized flow reversal includes Coanda effect flow,fluid duct 103, 105 pressure differential flow, and/or reverse flow inan active fluid inlet 108, 110 due to an idle active fluid source 122,124. Non-limiting examples of a carrier fluid 102, 104 include air,nitrogen, argon, an inert gas, and/or water. In the embodiment of FIG.2, the first active fluid inlet 108 is provided at the distance 114upstream of the nearest mixing point 106. The second active fluid inlet110 is provided at the distance 112 upstream of the nearest mixing point106.

The distance 112 and the distance 114 may be the same distance, ordifferential distances. Where the distances 112, 114 are different, thedifference may be due to the estimated fluid flows and pressures of thestreams in the most likely situations for the injector 100 to experiencelocalized reverse flows (e.g. if the carrier fluid 102 has a highermaximum flow rate than the carrier fluid 104, the distance 112 may begreater than the distance 114 in response), and/or due to the expectedCoanda flow into the respective fluid passages. In certain embodiments,the distances 112, 114 may be different due to manufacturing convenienceof the injector 100, where each distance 112, 114 is provided at leastequal to the expected distance to avoid active fluid reverse flow intoone of the active fluid inlets 108, 110, but some distances 112, 114 maybe provided at a greater distance than required.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view of an alternate embodiment of an injector109 that isolates inactive fluid passages. The fuel injector 109includes a first fluid duct 103 having a first fuel inlet 108 and asecond fluid duct 105 having a second fuel inlet 110. A compressed airsource flows compressed air simultaneously in each of the first fluidduct 103 and the second fluid duct 105. The exemplary injector 109includes a third fluid duct 107 having a third active fuel inlet 212,where the compressed air source flows compressed air simultaneously ineach of the first fluid duct 103 (at 102), the second fluid duct 105 (at104), and the third fluid duct 107 (at 206). The fuel inlets 108, 110,212 may alternatively be inlets for any active fluid. The compressed airsource may alternatively include one or more carrier fluid sources, andthe compressed air may alternatively be one or more of any carrierfluid. The injector 109 includes three combined streams 116, 118, 222that combine at a convergence point 106.

The first combined stream 116 includes the compressed air 102 mixed witha first fuel, the second combined stream 118 includes the compressed air104 mixed with a second fuel, and the third combined stream 222 includesthe compressed aft 206 combined with the third fuel. The fuel sourcesare structured in a parallel flow arrangement. An exemplary parallelflow arrangement includes each fuel source positioned at a flow locationupstream of any fluid mixing point between the fluid ducts 108, 110,212.

In another exemplary embodiment, the parallel flow arrangement includeseach active fuel source positioned at a flow location that is anadditional distance upstream of any fluid mixing point between the fluidducts 108, 110, 212 such that any localized flow reversal will notprovide mixed fluid at any active fluid source. For example, the firstfluid duct 108 is positioned the distance 114 upstream of the mixinglocation for the combined streams 116, 118, the second fluid duct 110 ispositioned at least the distance 112 upstream of the mixing location forthe combined streams 116, 118, 222, and the third fluid duct 212 ispositioned at least the distance 214 upstream of the mixing location forthe combined streams 116, 118, 222. Localized flow reversals includeCoanda effect flow, fluid duct pressure differential flow, and/or idleactive fuel source reverse flow. FIG. 3 illustrates an injector 109structured for three active fluid inlets 108, 110, 212, but any numberof active fluid inlets are contemplated herein, including two activefluid inlets, or more than three active fluid inlets.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram of a procedure for isolating inactivefluid passages. The exemplary procedure includes an operation 402 tocompress an amount of a carrier fluid, an operation 404 to provide aportion of the compressed carrier fluid to a plurality of fluid ducts,and an operation 406 to provide plurality of active fluid inlets, eachassociated with one of the fluid ducts. The procedure further includesan operation 408 to flow a distinct active fluid through each of theactive fluid inlets, and an operation 410 to flow combined fluids fromeach of the of fluid ducts downstream to a convergence point. Theprocedure further includes an operation 412 to provide the mixed fluidfrom the convergence point to a nozzle outlet. In certain embodiments,the procedure includes an operation (not shown) to flow a first activefluid through a first active fluid inlet during a time where a secondactive fluid is not flowing through a second active fluid inlet. Theprocedure additionally or alternatively includes an operation (notshown) to provide the active fluid inlets such that any localized flowreversal within the fluid ducts will not provide mixed fluid at anyactive fluid inlet.

As is evident from the figures and text presented above, a variety ofembodiments according to the present invention are contemplated. In oneform of the present application there is provided a fluid injector thatminimizes or prevents active fluids from one injector duct from enteringan active fluid inlet in another injector duct. In another form of thepresent application, a system is provided for preventing fuel from onefuel injector duct from entering a fuel inlet in another fuel injectorduct. In another form of the present application, a procedure providesoperations to prevent active fluids from one injector duct entering anactive fluid inlet in another injector duct.

A fluid injector includes a first fluid duct having a first active fluidinlet and a second fluid duct having a second active fluid inlet. Acarrier fluid source is structured to flow a carrier fluidsimultaneously into each of the first fluid duct and the second fluidduct. The injector includes a convergence point that receives a firstcombined stream and a second combined stream, where the first combinedstream includes the carrier fluid mixed with a first active fluid, andthe second combined stream includes the carrier fluid mixed with asecond active fluid. The first active fluid inlet and the second activefluid inlet are structured in a parallel flow arrangement. In oneembodiment, the first active fluid includes a first fuel and the secondactive fluid includes a second fuel. In certain embodiments, the activefluids include fuel, paint, primer, fluid chemical, and/or water.

The exemplary injector includes a third fluid duct having a third activefluid inlet, and wherein the carrier fluid source is further structuredto flow the carrier fluid simultaneously in each of the first fluidduct, the second fluid duct, and the third fluid duct, and furtherincludes a third combined stream including the carrier fluid mixed witha third active fluid. The convergence point further receives the firstcombined stream, the second combined stream, and the third combinedstream.

The parallel flow arrangement includes each active fluid inletpositioned at a flow location upstream of any fluid mixing point. In afurther embodiment, the parallel flow arrangement includes each activefluid inlet positioned at a flow location that is an additional distanceupstream of any fluid mixing point such that any localized flow reversalwill not provide mixed fluid at any active fluid inlet. The localizedflow reversal includes Coanda effect flow, fluid duct pressuredifferential flow, and/or idle active fluid source reverse flow. Thecarrier fluid includes air, nitrogen, argon, an inert gas, water, and asolvent.

Another exemplary embodiment is a fuel injector including a first fluidduct having a first fuel inlet and a second fluid duct having a secondfuel inlet. A compressed air source flows compressed air simultaneouslyin each of the first fluid duct and the second fluid duct. A convergencepoint receives a first combined stream and a second combined stream,where the first combined stream includes the compressed air mixed with afirst fuel and the second combined stream includes the compressed airmixed with a second fuel. The first fuel source and the second fuelsource are structured in a parallel flow arrangement. In an exemplaryembodiment, the parallel flow arrangement includes each fuel sourcepositioned at a flow location upstream of any fluid mixing point betweenthe first fluid duct and second fluid duct. In another exemplaryembodiment, the parallel flow arrangement includes each active fuelsource positioned at a flow location that is an additional distanceupstream of any fluid mixing point between the first fluid duct andsecond fluid duct such that any localized flow reversal will not providemixed fluid at any active fluid source. The localized flow reversalincludes Coanda effect flow, fluid duct pressure differential flow,and/or idle active fuel source reverse flow.

Yet another exemplary embodiment is a system including a gas turbineengine having a fuel injector. The fuel injector includes fluid ducts,where each fluid duct is coupled to an associated fuel inlet and whereeach associated fuel inlet is coupled to a distinct fuel source. The gasturbine engine includes a compressed air source that provides compressedair simultaneously in each of the fluid ducts. The fuel injectorincludes a convergence point that receives combined streams from each ofthe fluid ducts, where each combined stream includes compressed air andfuel from the associated fuel inlet. The associated fuel inlets arestructured in a parallel flow arrangement. The parallel flow arrangementincludes each associated fuel inlet positioned at a flow locationupstream of any fluid mixing point between each of the plurality offluid ducts. The parallel flow arrangement further includes, in anexemplary embodiment, each associated fuel inlet positioned at a flowlocation that is an additional distance upstream of any fluid mixingpoint between each of the plurality of fluid ducts such that anylocalized flow reversal will not provide mixed fluid at any associatedfuel inlet. The localized flow reversal includes a Coanda effect flow, afluid duct pressure differential flow, and/or an idle associated fuelinlet reverse flow.

Yet another exemplary embodiment is a method, comprising compressing anamount of a carrier fluid, providing a portion of the compressed carrierfluid to a plurality of fluid ducts, providing a plurality of activefluid inlets, each associated with one of the plurality of fluid ducts,flowing a distinct active fluid through each of the plurality of activefluid inlets, flowing combined fluids from each of the plurality offluid ducts downstream to a convergence point, and providing the mixedfluid from the convergence point to a nozzle outlet. The exemplarymethod further includes flowing a first active fluid through a firstactive fluid inlet during a time where a second active fluid is notflowing through a second active fluid inlet. The method further includesproviding the active fluid inlets such that any localized flow reversalwithin the plurality of fluid ducts will not provide mixed fluid at anyactive fluid inlet.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly certain embodiments have been shown and described and that allchanges and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventionsare desired to be protected. It should be understood that while the useof words such as preferable, preferably, preferred, more preferred orexemplary utilized in the description above indicate that the feature sodescribed may be more desirable or characteristic, nonetheless may notbe necessary and embodiments lacking the same may be contemplated aswithin the scope of the invention, the scope being defined by the claimsthat follow. In reading the claims, it is intended that when words suchas “a,” “an,” “at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used thereis no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specificallystated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least aportion” and/or “a portion” is used the item can include a portionand/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fluid injector, comprising: a first fluid ducthaving a first active fluid inlet and a second fluid duct having asecond active fluid inlet and a third fluid duct having a third activefluid inlet; a carrier fluid source structured to flow a carrier fluidsimultaneously in each of the first fluid duct, the second fluid duct,and the third fluid duct; a first convergence point that receives afirst combined stream, a second combined stream, and a third combinedstream, the first combined stream comprising the carrier fluid mixedwith a first active fluid entering the first fluid duct through thefirst active duct inlet, the second combined stream comprising thecarrier fluid mixed with a second active fluid entering the second fluidduct through the second active duct inlet, and the third combined streamcomprising the carrier fluid mixed with a third active fluid enteringthe third fluid duct through the third active duct inlet; a secondconvergence point that receives the second combined stream and the thirdcombined stream, the second convergence point being located upstream ofthe first convergence point; and wherein the first active fluid inletand the second active fluid inlet are structured in a parallel flowarrangement; wherein the parallel flow arrangement comprises the firstactive fluid inlet and the second active fluid inlet positioned at aflow location that is predetermined additional distance upstream of afluid mixing point between the first combined stream and second combinedstream, the predetermined additional distance selected to provide thatany localized flow reversal present in the first combined stream, thesecond combined stream, or the third combined stream will not suffice toprovide mixed fluid at the first active fluid inlet and the secondactive fluid inlet, wherein the first fluid duct has a first perimeterwall and the second fluid duct has a second perimeter wall; wherein thefirst active fluid inlet is coupled to the first perimeter wall andstructured to open into the first perimeter wall at an inclined anglerelative to the first perimeter wall to deliver an active fluid throughthe first perimeter wall and into the first fluid duct and is positionedupstream from the downstream-most end of the first perimeter wall of thefirst fluid duct; and wherein the second active fluid inlet is coupledto the second perimeter wall and structured to open into the secondperimeter wall at an inclined angle relative to the second perimeterwall to deliver an active fluid through the second perimeter wall andinto the second fluid duct and is positioned upstream from thedownstream-most end of the second perimeter wall of the second fluidduct.
 2. The fluid injector of claim 1, wherein the first active fluidcomprises a first fuel and the second active fluid comprises a secondfuel.
 3. The fluid injector of claim 1, wherein each active fluid of thefirst active fluid, the second active fluid, and the third active fluidcomprises a fluid selected from fluids consisting of: fuel, paint,primer, fluid chemical, solvent, and water.
 4. The fluid injector ofclaim 1, wherein the localized flow reversal comprises at least one flowselected from flows consisting of: Coanda effect flow, fluid ductpressure differential flow, and idle active source reverse flow.
 5. Thefluid injector of claim 1, wherein the carrier fluid comprises a fluidselected from fluids consisting of: air, nitrogen, argon, an inert gas,water, and a solvent.
 6. A fuel injector, comprising: a first fluid ducthaving a first fuel inlet, a second fluid duct having a second fuelinlet, and a third fluid duct having a third fuel inlet; a compressedair source structured to flow compressed air simultaneously in each ofthe first fluid duct, second fluid duct, and third fluid duct; a firstconvergence point receiving a first combined stream, a second combinedstream, and a third combined stream, the first combined streamcomprising the compressed air mixed with a first fuel entering the firstfluid duct through the first fuel inlet, the second combined streamcomprising the compressed air mixed with a second fuel entering thesecond fluid duct through the second fuel inlet, and the third combinedstream comprising the compressed air mixed with a third fuel enteringthe third fluid duct through the third fuel inlet; a second convergencepoint that receives the second combined stream and the third combinedstream, the second convergence point being located upstream of the firstconvergence point; and wherein the first fuel inlet, the second fuelinlet, and the third fuel inlet are structured in a parallel flowarrangement; wherein the first fluid duct has a first perimeter wall andthe second fluid duct has a second perimeter wall; wherein the firstfuel inlet is coupled to the first perimeter wall and structured to openinto the first perimeter wall at an inclined angle relative to the firstperimeter wall to deliver the first fuel through the first perimeterwall and into the first fluid duct and is positioned upstream from thedownstream-most end of the first perimeter wall of the first fluid duct;and wherein the second fuel inlet is coupled to the second perimeterwall and structured to open into the second perimeter wall at aninclined angle relative to the second perimeter wall to deliver thesecond fuel through the second perimeter wall and into the second fluidduct and is positioned upstream from the downstream-most end of thesecond perimeter wall of the second fluid duct.
 7. The fuel injector ofclaim 6, wherein the parallel flow arrangement comprises the first fuelinlet and the second fuel inlet positioned at a flow location upstreamof any fluid mixing point between the first combined stream and thesecond combined stream.
 8. The fuel injector of claim 7, wherein theparallel flow arrangement comprises the first fuel inlet and the secondfuel inlet positioned at a flow location that is a predeterminedadditional distance upstream of any fluid mixing point between the firstcombined stream and the second combined stream and the predeterminedadditional distance is selected to provide that any localized flowreversal present in the first combined stream, the second combinedstream, or the third combined stream will not suffice to provide mixedfluid at the first fuel inlet and the second fuel inlet.
 9. The fuelinjector of claim 8, wherein the localized flow reversal comprises atleast one flow selected from flows consisting of: Coanda effect flow,fluid duct pressure differential flow, and idle fuel source reverseflow.
 10. A system, comprising: a turbine engine having a fuel injector,comprising: a plurality of fluid ducts including at least three fluidducts, each of the plurality of fluid ducts coupled to an associatedfuel inlet of a plurality of fuel inlets wherein each of the associatedfuel inlet is coupled to a distinct fuel source; a compressed air sourcethat provides compressed air simultaneously in each of the plurality offluid ducts; a first convergence point receiving a plurality of combinedstreams from each of the plurality of fluid ducts, each of the combinedstream of the plurality of combined streams comprising compressed airand a fuel from the distinct fuel source entering the plurality of fluidducts through the associated fuel inlet; a second convergence pointreceiving the combined streams of two of the at least three fluid ducts,the second convergence point being located upstream of the firstconvergence point; and wherein a first fuel inlet of the plurality offuel inlets associated with a first fluid duct of the at least threefluid ducts and a second fuel inlet of the plurality of fuel inletsassociated with a second fluid duct of the at least three ducts arestructured in a parallel flow arrangement; wherein the first fluid ducthas a first perimeter wall and the second fluid duct has a secondperimeter wall; wherein the first fuel inlet is coupled to the firstperimeter wall and structured to open into the first perimeter wall atan inclined angle relative to the first perimeter wall to deliver fuelfrom the distinct fuel source entering the first fluid duct through thefirst fuel inlet and is positioned upstream from the downstream-most endof the first perimeter wall of the first fluid duct; and wherein thesecond fuel inlet is coupled to the second perimeter wall and structuredto open into the second perimeter wall at an inclined angle relative tothe second perimeter wall to deliver fuel from the distinct fuel sourceentering the second fluid duct through the second fuel inlet and ispositioned upstream from the downstream-most end of the second perimeterwall of the second fluid duct.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein theparallel flow arrangement comprises each of the first fuel inlet and thesecond fuel inlet positioned at a flow location that is a predeterminedadditional distance upstream of the second convergence point and thepredetermined additional distance is selected to provide that anylocalized flow reversal present in the plurality of combined streamswill not suffice to provide mixed fluid at the first fuel inlet and thesecond fuel inlet.